First shark experience

[carriersanders]

I am so curious about shark experiences...I am new at diving and haven't seen a shark yet...Is it terrifying?...Do you get over being scared after the first one?

[RoyN]

I saw my first leopard shark in California, I didn't see one, but two and they were in love and swimming side by side!

Otherwise, my suggestion is sit back, stay out of the way, and the watch the beautiful sight! You may not see it as those fish are heading toward extinction.

[cmburch]

I saw a small angle shark sitting on the bottom in Monterey Bay. My wife saw a Great White hit a female elephant seal from Año Nuevo Island. It was in between the island and shore - an unusual place for a Great White. I've seen leopard sharks when swimming near piers. I have even caught them when fishing.

[cummings66]

Originally Posted by carriersanders

I am so curious about shark experiences...I am new at diving and haven't seen a shark yet...Is it terrifying?...Do you get over being scared after the first one?

I have never seen a shark, but I can answer your question "Is it terrifying?". The answer is, does that type of thing scare you intensely? If so I'd say yes it is. Do you get over it? Depends on you, how do you handle things that scare you above the water?

You are not going to change under water, if you're afraid of animals above it that can eat you, you will be scared of them below as well. If you respect them above then you will do so below.

The answer varies. For me, I think I'd be intimidated, not sure I'd want to see them in the first place. I believe I could easily get over it though because I am not the type of person who handles things poorly under stress, I'm pretty calm and serious about things. In fact I have never really panicked in my life so I think I could learn to handle seeing sharks. I'm just apprehensive about them like I would be anything I've never done, but I am not afraid of the experience.

For example, my wife will scream if I walk into a room and she's not expecting me to be there, she's easily scared. I'd bet you she'd panic in a split second. I will turn and look towards the potential confrontation but not react in a manner which makes me seem weak, I seek the upper hand so I don't think I'd panic. Which way are you?

[cmburch]

If I saw a Blue or a Great White while diving, I would probably have a heart attack. I would drop all my catch and hug the bottom swimming into shore and try to keep it in sight if it was to come down after me.

[chris in the socal]

I have been collecting horn sharks of the coast of Catalina for the past 3 months. I love them they are so cool. I just saw an angel shark last month. One of the coolest things ever. I have to say when you see your first large shark you will kind of freak. The biggest sharks that ive seen was three blues to say the least I have loved every experiance.

[ChrisA]

Horn Sharks are common here. I kind of expect to see them in some places. But they are not "real sharks" they are just bottom feeders and stupid ones at that. I've seen a few leopard sharks in shallow water around Catalina Island. Once an angel shark ran into me and whacked my hand in near zero viz at night. I'm sure it like me just couldn't see where it was going. It took off fast. Only once did I come across a "real" shark. It was on a local reef in about 30ft of water. My buddy pointed it out but I did not get a good look. It bolted when it saw us.

[BSea]

I've seen sharks on a few dives. It does make your heart race a little, but my experience is that they pretty much ignore people. I believe in each case they were caribbean reef sharks. 1 was probably about 7 to 8 feet, and the others were smaller.

If you want to see sharks, try to be the 1st off the boat, or hang out & be the last on the boat. At least that's the advice I've been given, and each time there were no other divers around when I saw sharks other than my buddy.

[chris in the socal]

Most of the sharks do bolt when they see you.

[Soonerwink]

I have seen several silky sharks and black tip reef sharks at the Flower Gardens. You usually have to be one of the first in the water to see them. They don't stay around long when all the divers start fanning out. I clean the leopard shark tank at our local aquarium. I am constantly having to push them out of the way, they don't seem to mind me being there and I think it is kinda of cool. A lot of people take pictures.